Navan 2030 works will be a 'game changer' for the town

Work is well underway on the third phase of the Navan 2030 scheme with contractors currently working on the junction of Paddy O'Brien Street and Kennedy Road.

The current contract will see the provision of a new bus interchange on Kennedy Road, new taxi ranks, and significant public realm upgrade.

The €13 million investment in the town has been welcomed, with public representatives now calling for a trial pedestrianisation to be carried out on Trimgate Street when the works are complete.

“I want to see this work moving as fast as possible and then we can have a trial run on the pedestrianisation of Trimgate Street,” said Cllr Tommy Reilly.

“This would bring Trimgate Street to life again. As far back as 1999, I proposed a motion at the council for pedestrianisation.”

The current works are to be completed in several sections and have been sequenced to mitigate the impact on the town arising from the works.

The first phases of the current contracts include the upgrade of the junction of Paddy O’Brien Street with Kennedy Road, which will be followed by the construction of a new taxi rank on Abbey Road, footpath and road reconstruction works.

Upgrade works to Market Square, the Trimgate Street/Kennedy Road/Market Square junction will follow and when complete, reconfiguration and upgrade works to the southern end of Kennedy Pace car park will take place.

This will be followed by upgrade works on the eastern side of Kennedy Road adjacent to the Navan Town Shopping Centre and the construction of part of the new bus interchange facility.

Upgrade works will then take place on the western side of Kennedy Road (including construction of part of the new bus interchange facility) and works to Kennedy Plaza area, including reconfiguration works to the car park area followed by upgrade works to Kennedy Road from Paddy O’Brien Street to Trimgate Street junction. Work has also commenced on a new ‘Park and Ride’ facility for Navan, which is located on the N51 (Navan Inner Relief Road), adjacent to St Patrick's Classical School.

The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons welcomed the current works and pointed out that the town was extremely lucky to have such an investment.

“We can see the benefits and how well it looks with the new roundabouts.

“Communication seems to have been good between management and stakeholders so far.

“When work is taking place in the centre of the town it will cause congestion, but we will have to bear with it.”

As far as a trial pedestrianiation was concerned, Cllr Fitzsimons said a lot of councillors indicated they would like to see it,

“We would have to have a lot of communication before it could happen.

“Everyone would need to be kept in the loop.”

“I am really pleased with what has happened so far. It is a game changer for the town,” he said.

Trimgate Street businessman, Blair Clinton said that a trial period of pedestrianisation was the way forward.

“A trial period would be preferable to just introducing it straight off. I would be happy enough to see it tried out,” he said.

Cllr Eddie Fennessy said Meath County Council deserve a lot of credit for delivering a number of crucial infrastructural projects across the town.

"The 2030 scheme in particular has transformed the centre of Navan in terms of connectivity, accessibility and safety. That scheme will be further enhanced by a number of key projects over the coming years.

"When completed we will have a regenerated town centre that includes a pedestrianised Trimgate Street, a regenerated Flower Hill and Abbeylands, a new bridge over the river Blackwater, the Boyne and Lakelands Geenways, a cycle network connecting Johnstown with the Trim Rd and North Navan and a Park and Ride at Moatlands.

"Contract three of the 2030 plan which covers the Kennedy Road area was always going to be the most difficult section to manage.

“Work started this week and there doesn't seem to have been too much disruption to access or trade which is welcome.

"The council reassure me there'll be as little disruption as possible on Kennedy Road over the next 12 months. I ask people to be patient.

“The means will justify the end and that end will most certainly have been worth the wait," he said.